Pre-Crossfit Competition Jitters and Workout Struggles

by ~jenniferlynn on April 24, 2013

in CrossFit

Why is it so hard to take a rest day?

Every week, I have been taking Wednesdays off. It’s nothing new, nothing special. It just fits in nicely with working out Monday, Tuesday (double WOD), Thursday (double WOD), Friday. But today, I’m especially struggling with taking the day off. I’m blaming it on pre-competition jitters..

Since I participated in the Crossfit Games Open, I have had this crazy drive to be the best. I know I have only been Crossfitting for 4 months and I know that I have so much more room to grow, but I also know that I have become so much stronger mentally and physically since I have started. I’m signed up for my first real competition on Sunday. A modified division, but still a competition. I am not expecting to be the best or the fastest or the strongest, but I am absolutely going to try my best and have an awesome time. I gained so much confidence in the Open that I feel I’m mentally prepared for a local competition.

clean and jerk pr 95lbs

But then a workout like last night happens and I get a bit discouraged, but even more determined. I did the regular WOD class and felt beat after, which isn’t abnormal. I have done the WOD class followed by the Endurance class multiple times which is difficult, but the few minutes I’ll have between the classes usually is enough to time recover and be ready for the second beat-down. This workout, my body never recovered. It hated me, and not just physically but mentally. I felt defeated and not in a good way. I felt nauseous, light-headed, and frustrated. I felt so negative, and wondered how in the world I am going to do a competition when I am struggling so much in a normal workout? I went into a quick bout of self-doubt and it made me even miserable.

I worked out Monday, and then did back-to-back workouts Tuesday (including about half an hour of constant speed and agility drills, followed by two .8 mile runs). I cannot be upset that my body was tired! I slept a solid 9+ hours last night and after dreaming all night about rocking the competition I felt so much better. I wanted to get right back into the gym to prove that I am more mentally strong than that. I wanted to hurry up and rest and recover, and knock out today’s WOD and regain my confidence. But it’s Wednesday and it’s a rest day (and the WOD was sled pushes, so I’m not sad about missing it.. hehe).

I am signed up for this competition for fun. I am doing this for me, to prove that I do have the mental drive and the confidence and to show how far I have come in such a short amount of time. While it is a competition against other girls at my box and other local athletes, I am not counting on winning or even placing in the top –  this is absolutely a Me vs. Me competition, and I’m ready for it!

Your turn..

Do you ever get over-confident and then need to scale it back down?
Do you dread rest days?
Do you listen to your body all of the time?

Danielle @ itsaharleyyylife
Twitter: itsaharleyylife
April 25, 2013 at 7:57 am

good luck at your competition. I can’t wait to hear about it! (: You are going to do great!
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~jenniferlynn April 26, 2013 at 1:49 pm

Thanks Danielle!

NJ Paleo April 25, 2013 at 8:36 am

I freak out and try to overtrain before every race I care about! The more I care the stronger the urge. Resist! You will do great at the competition. Look how far you have come already! Can’t wait to hear about how awesome it was!

~jenniferlynn April 26, 2013 at 1:49 pm

I agree! It’s hard to not want to push up until the last minute!

Courtney @ Journey of a Dreamer
Twitter: courtnorm
April 25, 2013 at 10:34 am

Rest days are so tough! Especially when I’m up at the box coaching. I want to jump in! I may have done death by snatches yesterday when it was supposed to be a rest day. oops. Lately i’ve been struggling with my snatch – I used to think I was so good – so strong… but I’m not. I have a hard time getting into a squat when I snatch so I’ve scaled WAY back and have just been working the movement. It is totally me vs me…. until the other girl at the box starts to beat me – then its me vs her. ha.
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~jenniferlynn April 25, 2013 at 10:45 am

EXACTLY! 🙂

I love Death By.. workouts. Snatch is a huge weakness for me. For my competition, one of the WODs is 10 snatches (55, RX is 95 but since my max is 75 automatically got bumped to the scaled division), 10 burpees, 10 push-ups, AMRAP. Ick.

Another one is a clean and jerk ladder and coach said I need to squat clean.. but I’m horrible at getting stuck in the hole, so end up missing the squat.

Gotta do it to improve though!

Jacki
Twitter: JackiRHayes
April 25, 2013 at 11:22 am

I HATE rest days. Working out is when I feel the most like myself, so taking time to let my body recover is so difficult on my emotional and mental side. But if I don’t, I get sick and end up having to take many rest days.

So, yeah, starting to be smart and learn that it is okay to just wake up and stretch/foam roll on some mornings instead of heading straight to the gym. That way I feel like I am still doing some “fitness” but I am letting my body rest and relax.
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~jenniferlynn May 3, 2013 at 9:10 am

I love stretching and foam rolling and wish they had an hour long class for that alone! But it’s been a bad habit of wanting to just go, go, go, especially when I see other athletes do it! I have to remember I am not at their level.. and my body needs rest more than others.. so difficult!

Alex @ Alex Tries it Out
Twitter: alex_j_meyer
April 26, 2013 at 10:34 am

Rest days can be tough. I have an especially hard time resting before races – it’s like I’m afraid my body will forget how to run or something!

A lot of times I try to schedule other things for those days. So I’m too busy to think about the fact I’m not working out – that helps.

I would say sometimes I get over-confident in that I push myself to run too much/too many days in a row. I usually can tell when I go to run and have “heavy legs”.
Alex @ Alex Tries it Out recently posted..Fitness Friday: Look at Me NowMy Profile

~jenniferlynn May 3, 2013 at 9:11 am

Exactly how I feel, but with lifting! If I take time off, I’m going to lose the strength I had a couple days ago! 😉

Lori
Twitter: lorioutloud
April 26, 2013 at 10:47 am

I actually look forward to rest days! Mainly because my schedule is so crazy busy (or, I should say, my daughter’s schedule is so crazy busy) that it takes some of the pressure off of trying to figure out how I’m going to fit it all in!

Good luck at competition! You will be awesome!
Lori recently posted..This Is Why We RunMy Profile

~jenniferlynn May 3, 2013 at 9:12 am

That’s great that you can appreciate your rest days! I like Wednesdays and Sundays off, but it still makes it hard if something comes up on a scheduled workout day and I can’t workout.

dena @ 40 Fit in the Mitt
Twitter: denajeanneb
April 26, 2013 at 12:13 pm

I need and crave down time. Good-Luck this weekend. Love that your doing it for you!
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~jenniferlynn May 3, 2013 at 9:12 am

I just get so excited about my progress and want to just keep pushing and pushing.. the feeling may wear off one day, but for now I’m anxious when I don’t go!

Melissa Love
Twitter: Ms_MLove
April 26, 2013 at 4:56 pm

I am SOOOOOO pumped for you!!!!! You’ll do great!! Right now I am listening a lot more closely to my body with this ankle. But I do get antsy too. You need it. And we can’t always rock or we’d never enjoy the awesome days as much 🙂

~jenniferlynn May 3, 2013 at 9:14 am

You should understand rest day anxiety better than anyone! Eek!
And yes.. I know rest is the “right” thing to do.. blah blah blah. 🙂

Kyle April 26, 2013 at 10:08 pm

I hate rest days as well but I really need them. Good luck with your competition. Just remember the only person you must beat is you!
Kyle recently posted..Today I ran for Boston…My Profile

~jenniferlynn May 3, 2013 at 9:15 am

It’s funny because when I started CF I could only go 2x a week, then I upped it to 3.. then 4.. now 5.. my body is adapting to just go, go, go.. so it’s hard to take a step back and rest sometimes!

masters2marathons
Twitter: mast2mar
April 27, 2013 at 1:47 pm

I take rest days as needed. Its one thing to be injured and TOLD you can’t do XYZ for this long, its another to rest a day or two and then keep going. You can only be your best if you push hard and then give your body some time to recuperate. Think of it as a nice little break and if you need a longer break that’s ok too!
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~jenniferlynn May 3, 2013 at 9:16 am

Injuries are horrible.. and I’m so excited you’re just about fully recovered!!

But yes, rest is just as important.. just like stretching and foam rolling.. necessary evils.. 😉

Amanda Perry @ Sistas of Strength April 29, 2013 at 10:56 am

I used to absolutely hate rest days. I always felt “off” when I didn’t start my day with a workout. I’ve tried looking at it differently and enjoying the extra time to sleep or chill out with my son or get some work done. Easier said than done of course, but a lot of times on my rest days I’ll take a nice walk outside with the stroller and that helps with the crazies. haha
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~jenniferlynn May 3, 2013 at 9:17 am

I’m an evening workout-er but it seems weird to just go home from work and do nothing.. like something is missing. Yes, I can finally clean the kitchen and do laundry.. but still – I’d rather be at the gym! 😉

Gina @ Noshing on Asphalt April 30, 2013 at 7:33 am

I know I’m late reading this so instead of commenting about your jitters and what not I’m just going to remind you that you ROCKED the hell out of your competition!
Gina @ Noshing on Asphalt recently posted..Weekly Workout RecapMy Profile

~jenniferlynn May 3, 2013 at 9:18 am

Thanks Gina!!!! 🙂

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